“Dental implants are helping people to rediscover the comfort and confidence to eat, speak, laugh, and enjoy life,” says Dr. Kevin O’Shea and Dr. Patrick Keeley, Periodontists in Monterey and Salinas, CA.

Online PR News – 22-March-2014 – Monterey County, CA – Monterey County, CA - “I’ve had lots of dental work done during my life,” says accountant Ron Holly, 55. “I inherited bad teeth and I have had so many problems that I have spent five to fifteen thousand dollars each year, just maintaining my crowns and bridges.”

‘Like many people, Ron’s quality of life was seriously affected by the discomfort, inconvenience and ongoing costs of his failing teeth,” says Dr. Patrick Keeley. “Dental implants make it possible for people with missing or failing teeth to rediscover the comfort and confidence to eat, speak, laugh, and enjoy life.”

“Dental implants are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel and function like natural teeth,” says Dr. Kevin O’Shea. “The new teeth appear natural and facial contours are preserved. Implants can be used to replace one tooth, multiple teeth or all of a patient’s teeth, by themselves or in conjunction with other dental work,” he says.

“When I met Dr. Keeley, he showed me how implants could be a big improvement over what I had,” says Ron. “I liked the idea that I could finally fix the problem once and for all. I decided to have the implants done, and I had five implants in my upper jaw about a year ago. I'm now planning to have additional implants in my lower jaw. I can see the quality of the work, and now I have no pain.”

How Dental Implants Are Done:
Patients who choose dental implants will first undergo a dental / radiographic examination and a review of their health history. During each consultation visit, the doctor will discuss the patient’s specific needs and considerations.

Dental implants are metal anchors, surgically placed into the jawbone to act as substitutes for the roots of the teeth. Small posts are attached to the implant to provide stable anchors in the gums for replacement teeth.

For most patients, the placement of dental implants involve two surgical procedures. “First, implants are placed within the jawbone. Healing time following surgery varies from person to person and is based on several factors that include hardness of bone. In some cases, implants may be restored immediately after they are placed,” says Dr. O’Shea.

For the first three to six months following surgery, the implants are beneath the surface of the gums, gradually bonding with the jawbone. Patients should be able to wear temporary dentures and eat a soft diet during this time. During this time, the restorative dentist designs the final bridgework or denture that will ultimately improve both function and aesthetics.

After the implant has bonded to the jawbone, the second phase begins.The implant will be uncovered and a small healing collar will be attached. After two weeks the patient’s general dentist will be able to start making the new teeth after an impression is taken. Then, posts or attachments can be connected to the implants. The teeth replacements are then placed over the posts or attachments. The entire procedure usually takes six to eight months, and most patients do not experience any disruption in their daily life.

“Implants are tiny titanium posts that are placed into the jawbone where teeth are missing,” says Dr. Keeley. “The bone bonds with the titanium, creating a strong foundation for artificial teeth. Implants can help preserve facial structure, preventing the bone deterioration that occurs when teeth are missing. Also, people often look younger when their facial structure is preserved.”

For more information visit www.periodontist4gums.com or call 831-373-2141 for the Monterey office, 831-422-9908 for the Salinas office.

About Dr. O'Shea and Dr. Keeley:
Dr. Patrick Keeley and Dr. Kevin O'Shea have received extensive training in implantology and they have been successfully placing implants since 1985. Through continuing education, Dr. Keeley and Dr. O'Shea keep abreast of the most current information on implant dentistry.